Friday, October 17, 2008

Among my stable of goalies I'm fond of is Steve Valiquette, the NY Rangers' #2 goalie. Not sure why I like him. Maybe because he's so gracious in his back-up role and so solid when called upon. I've never heard a bad word about the guy. I contend that he's one of the best back-ups in the league, could probably be a starter, but seems content, even grateful, in his role.

I wouldn't normally report much Rangers stuff, but this blurb in the article made me smile.

Three of Valiquette's 11 career NHL victories have come against the Maple Leafs, including a shootout win last season. He skated off as the first star of the game to chants of "Vall-ey! Vall-ey!" from the appreciative crowd.

"It gave me goose bumps. Now I know how Henrik feels," he said.

Now, I remember sitting in Madison Square Garden last March and the "Hen-rick! Hen-rick!" chant would erupt after each great save. All I could think was, "Man, that must feel like a million bucks to be a goalie and have your very own chant." If you're a lover of goalies, it does give you goosebumps. If you're THE GOALIE, man, that's gotta kinda blow your mind. I'd have to leave the rink through the loading dock, my head would be so big.

That said... Aeros fans... howzabout a "Schae-fer! Schae-fer!" or a "Bar-ry! Bar-ry!" for the many amazing saves those guys serve up? A little goosebump-for-goosebump swap? Maybe with a little help from the big board to get it going? Just saying...